Plunge saws with cut indicators and methods of operating plunge saws

ABSTRACT

Plunge saws with cut indicators and methods of operating plunge saws are disclosed herein. The plunge saws include a motor and an arbor, which is configured to operatively attach a circular saw blade to the plunge saw and to receive a torque from the motor. The plunge saws also include a base plate and a base plate pivot. The plunge saws further include a plunge mechanism, which is configured to be selectively actuated, by a user of the plunge saw and during operative use of the plunge saw to cut a workpiece, to transition the plunge saw from a retracted orientation to a plunged orientation and to plunge the circular saw blade into the workpiece. The plunge saws also include a cut indicator, which is configured to project a light line onto the workpiece to visually indicate, on the workpiece, a location of an edge of the circular saw blade.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 63/044,034, which was filed on Jun. 25, 2020, and the completedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed generally to plunge saws with cutindicators and/or to methods of operating plunge saws.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Plunge saws are a type of handheld circular saw in which a plungeassembly, which includes and/or is operatively attached to a circularsaw blade, is rotated relative to a base plate to plunge a region of thecircular saw blade past the base plate and/or into a workpiece. In someinstances, plunge saws may be utilized in a manner in which the circularsaw blade initiates contact with an edge of the workpiece. In someinstances, plunge saws may be utilized in a manner in which the circularsaw blade initiates contact with a central region, or planar surface, ofthe workpiece. In both examples, it may be difficult for a user of theplunge saw to visually see a leading edge of the circular saw bladeand/or a trailing edge of the circular saw blade as the circular sawblade is utilized to cut the workpiece. As such, it may be difficult forthe user of the plunge saw to make precision cuts, especially when theprecision cuts terminate within a central region of the workpiece and/ordo not extend across an entirety of the workpiece. Thus, there exists aneed for improved plunge saws with cut indicators and/or for improvedmethods of operating plunge saws.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Plunge saws with cut indicators and methods of operating plunge saws aredisclosed herein. The plunge saws include a motor, which includes amotor shaft configured to rotate about a shaft rotational axis, and anarbor, which is configured to operatively attach a circular saw blade tothe plunge saw and to receive a torque from the motor when the motorshaft rotates about the shaft rotational axis. The plunge saws alsoinclude a base plate, which defines an arbor-facing side and anarbor-opposed side, and a base plate pivot, which operatively attachesthe arbor to the arbor-facing side of the base plate. The plunge sawsfurther include a plunge mechanism, which is configured to beselectively actuated, by a user of the plunge saw and during operativeuse of the plunge saw to cut a workpiece, to transition the plunge sawfrom a retracted orientation to a plunged orientation and to plunge thecircular saw blade into the workpiece. The transition is via rotation ofthe arbor and the base plate relative to one another and about the baseplate pivot. The plunge saws also include a cut indicator, which isconfigured to project a light line onto the workpiece to visuallyindicate, on the workpiece, a location of an edge of the circular sawblade.

The methods include actuating a switch of the plunge saw and, responsiveto the actuating, initiating rotation of a circular saw blade of theplunge saw and initiating projection of a light line onto a workpiece tovisually indicate, on the workpiece, a location of an edge of thecircular saw blade. The methods also include plunging the circular sawblade into the workpiece during rotation of the circular saw blade andalso during projection of the light line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of examples of plunge saws thatinclude a cut indicator, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating examples of plunge sawsthat include cut indicators, according to the present disclosure, andillustrating the plunge saws in a plunged orientation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the plunge saws of FIG. 2in a retracted orientation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view illustrating examples of a region of aplunge saw that includes a cut indicator, according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a less schematic top profile view of an example of a plungesaw according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a less schematic right side view of an example of a plunge sawaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a less schematic left side view of an example of a plunge sawaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is another less schematic left side view of an example of aplunge saw according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is another less schematic left side view of an example of aplunge saw according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a less schematic front view of an example of a plunge sawaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a less schematic rear view of an example of a plunge sawaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a less schematic top view of an example of a plunge sawaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a less schematic bottom view of an example of a plunge sawaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating examples of methods of operating aplunge saw, according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIGS. 1-13 provide examples of plunge saws 10 and/or components thereof,according to the present disclosure. Elements that serve a similar, orat least substantially similar, purpose are labeled with like numbers ineach of FIGS. 1-13 , and these elements may not be discussed in detailherein with reference to each of FIGS. 1-13 . Similarly, all elementsmay not be labeled in each of FIGS. 1-13 , but reference numeralsassociated therewith may be utilized herein for consistency. Elements,components, and/or features that are discussed herein with reference toone or more of FIGS. 1-13 may be included in and/or utilized with any ofFIGS. 1-13 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.In general, elements that are likely to be included in a particularembodiment are illustrated in solid lines, while elements that areoptional are illustrated in dashed lines. However, elements that areshown in solid lines may not be essential to all embodiments and, insome embodiments, may be omitted without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of examples of plunge saws 10 thatinclude cut indicators 500, according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2is a schematic side view illustrating examples of plunge saws 10 thatinclude cut indicators 500, according to the present disclosure, andillustrates the plunge saws in a plunged orientation 52, according tothe present disclosure, while FIG. 3 is a schematic side viewillustrating the plunge saws of FIG. 2 in a retracted orientation 54.FIG. 4 is a schematic top view illustrating examples of a region ofplunge saws 10 that includes cut indicators 500, according to thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 5-13 are less schematic views of examples of a plunge saw 10according to the present disclosure. More specifically, FIG. 5illustrates a top profile view of plunge saw 10, and FIG. 6 illustratesa right side view of plunge saw 10. FIG. 7 illustrates a left side viewof plunge saw 10 illustrating the plunge saw in plunged orientation 52,FIG. 8 illustrates the left side view of plunge saw 10 illustrating theplunge saw in retracted orientation 54, and FIG. 9 illustrates the leftside view of FIG. 8 with several covers removed. FIG. 10 is a front viewof plunge saw 10, FIG. 11 is a rear view of plunge saw 10, FIG. 12 is atop view of plunge saw 10, and FIG. 13 is a bottom view of plunge saw10.

As perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 1 , plunge saws 10 include a motor90 that includes a motor shaft 92 configured to rotate about a shaftrotational axis 94. Plunge saws 10 also include an arbor 100 configuredto receive a torque from motor 90 when motor shaft 92 rotates about theshaft rotational axis. As illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 1-3 andin solid lines in FIGS. 4, 6-11, and 13 , plunge saws 10 also mayinclude a circular saw blade 200. Circular saw blade 200, when present,may be operatively attached to the plunge saw via arbor 100 and/or maybe configured for rotational movement with the arbor. Stated anotherway, arbor 100 may be configured to operatively attach circular sawblade 200 to plunge saw 10 and/or to rotate the circular saw bladeresponsive to receipt of the torque from motor 90. Rotation of circularsaw blade 200 may facilitate cutting of a workpiece 98 with the circularsaw blade, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 .

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-13 , plunge saws 10 also include abase plate 304. Base plate 304 defines an arbor-facing side 308 and anarbor-opposed side 312. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, 7-9 , and 13,plunge saws 10 further include a base plate pivot 316. Base plate pivot316 operatively attaches motor 90 and/or arbor 100 to arbor-facing side308 of base plate 304. In some examples, motor 90 and arbor 100 may forma portion of, or may be referred to herein as forming a portion of, aplunge assembly 84, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 . In some such examples,base plate pivot 316 may be referred to herein as operatively attachingplunge assembly 84 to base plate 304 and/or as permitting plungeassembly 84 to rotate relative to base plate 304, such as about a pivotaxis 318 of the base plate pivot.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3 , plunge saws 10 include a plungemechanism 380. Plunge mechanism 380 may include any suitable structurethat may be adapted, configured, designed, and/or constructed to beselectively actuated by the user of the plunge saw and during operativeuse of the plunge saw to cut workpiece 98. The selective actuation maypermit and/or cause the plunge saw to transition from retractedorientation 54, which is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 3 , toplunged orientation 52, which is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1-2. The transition may be via rotation of arbor 100 and base plate 304relative to one another, about base plate pivot 316, and/or about pivotaxis 318 of the base plate pivot. Stated another way, and in someexamples, this transition may be via rotation of plunge assembly 84 andbase plate 304 relative to one another, about the base plate pivot,and/or about the pivot axis. This rotation may cause circular saw blade200 to rotate, to move, to extend, and/or to plunge past arbor-opposedside 312 of base plate 304 and/or into workpiece 98.

Stated another way, arbor 100 may be configured to pivot relative tobase plate 304 throughout a range of relative orientations, or relativeangles, that may be bounded by the fully plunged orientation and thefully retracted orientation. For each relative orientation in this rangeof relative orientations, circular saw blade 200 may extend onarbor-opposed side 312 by a corresponding amount, thereby providing acorresponding maximum depth-of-cut for the circular saw.

As perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 , plunge saws 10 also includecut indicator 500. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 4 , cut indicator 500is configured to project a light line 516, or at least one light line516, onto workpiece 98. The light line, or a location of the light lineon the workpiece, visually indicates, on the workpiece, a location 504of an edge of circular saw blade 200, such as a leading edge and/or atrailing edge of the circular saw blade.

When plunge saws 10 are utilized to cut workpiece 98, and as discussedin more detail herein with reference to methods 1000 of FIG. 14 , aswitch 65 may be actuated, which may permit and/or facilitate supply ofelectric current to at least one other structure of the plunge saw, suchas motor 90 and/or cut indicator 500. Actuation of switch 65 and/orreceipt of the electric current may cause motor 90 to rotate motor shaft92, which in turn may rotate circular saw blade 200, such as viarotation of arbor 100. Actuation of switch 65 also may cause cutindicator 500 to initiate projection of light line 516 onto workpiece98, and a location of the light line on the workpiece may visuallyindicate, to the user of the plunge saw, location 504 of at least oneedge of the circular saw blade. Stated another way, plunge saws 10 thatinclude cut indicators 500 may provide the user with additionalinformation and/or may make it easier for the user to identify location504 of the edge of circular saw blade 200. This may permit and/orfacilitate improved, or more precise, cuts within workpiece 98 and/ormay permit the user to make precise cuts within workpiece 98 without theneed for the user to directly observe the edge of the circular sawblade.

In some examples, cut indicator 500 may include and/or be a leading edgecut indicator 501 that may be configured to project light line 516 inthe form of a leading edge light line 517, as perhaps best illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 4 . Leading edge cut indicator 501 and/or leading edgelight line 517 thereof may be configured to visually indicate, onworkpiece 98, location 504 in the form of a leading location 505 of aleading edge of circular saw blade 200, such as may be proximate aleading edge region 305 of base plate 304. In some such examples,leading edge cut indicator 501 may be adapted, configured, designed,and/or constructed to project light line 516, in the form of leadingedge light line 517, onto workpiece 98 when plunge saw 10 is in bothplunged orientation 52 and retracted orientation 54. Stated another way,leading edge cut indicator 501 may project leading edge light line 517onto workpiece 98 regardless of a rotational orientation between baseplate 304 and arbor 100 about base plate pivot 316 and/or pivot axis 318thereof.

In some such examples, leading edge light line 517 may indicate thelocation of the leading edge of the circular saw blade when, or onlywhen, the plunge saw is in the fully plunged orientation. Stated anotherway, a location of the leading edge of the circular saw blade, withinthe workpiece, may vary with the relative orientation between the baseplate and the arbor; however, the location of leading edge light line517 on the workpiece may not vary with this relative orientation.However, this is not required of all embodiments, and it is within thescope of the present disclosure that the location of leading edge lightline 517 on workpiece 98 may vary with the relative orientation betweenthe base plate and the arbor, such as to indicate the location of theleading edge of the circular saw blade regardless of the relativeorientation and/or throughout a range-of-motion between the base plateand the arbor.

Additionally or alternatively, and in some examples, cut indicator 500may include and/or be a trailing edge cut indicator 502 that may beconfigured to project light line 516 in the form of a trailing edgelight line 518, as perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 . Trailingedge cut indicator 502 and/or trailing edge light line 518 thereof maybe configured to visually indicate, on workpiece 98, location 504 in theform of a trailing location 506 of a trailing edge of circular saw blade200, such as may be proximate a trailing edge region 306 of base plate304. In some such examples, trailing edge cut indicator 502 may beadapted, configured, designed, and/or constructed to project light line516, in the form of trailing edge light line 518, onto workpiece 98 whenplunge saw 10 is in plunged orientation 52, only when the plunge saw isin the plunged orientation, when the plunge saw is in a fully plungedorientation, and/or only when the plunge saw is in the fully plungedorientation. Stated another way, trailing edge cut indicator 502 may notproject trailing edge light line 518 onto workpiece 98 when the plungesaw is not in the plunged, or the fully plunged, orientation. In somesuch examples, a light source that projects trailing edge light line 518onto the workpiece may be blocked except when the plunge saw is in theplunged, or fully plunged, orientation.

Cut indicator 500, including leading edge cut indicator 501 and/ortrailing edge cut indicator 502, may utilize light line 516 to indicatelocation 504 in any suitable manner As an example, and as perhaps bestillustrated in FIG. 4 , cut indicator 500 may project one or more lightlines 516 in a direction that is perpendicular, or at leastsubstantially perpendicular, to a blade plane 202 within which circularsaw blade 200 may be configured to rotate.

Cut indicator 500 may include any suitable structure. As an example, cutindicator 500 may include a light source 520, which may be configured togenerate, to emit, and/or to project light line 516. An example of lightsource 520 includes at least a cut indicator laser and/or a cutindicator light emitting diode (LED).

Cut indicator 500 and/or light source 520 thereof may project light line516 in any suitable manner As an example, light source 520 may beconfigured to project collimated light 524, as indicated by the dashedline in FIG. 4 , and the collimated light may define light line 516. Asanother example, light source 520 may be configured to project a lightarc 526, as indicated by the textured area in FIG. 4 . In some suchexamples, light line 516 may be defined by a portion of the light arcthat is incident upon workpiece 98. In some such examples, light source520 may be configured to project light, or the light arc, past circularsaw blade 200. In such examples, a first portion 528 of the light may beincident upon circular saw blade 200 and a second portion 530 of thelight may be incident upon workpiece 98. In some examples, the secondportion of the light may define light line 516. In some examples,location 504 may be indicated, on workpiece 98, by a transition 532 froma shadow of the circular saw blade to the light line.

A discussed, plunge saws 10 may include switch 65, which may beconfigured to selectively supply and/or apply an electric current to atleast one other component of the plunge saw, such as motor 90 and/or cutindicator 500. In some examples, cut indicator 500 may be configured toindicate the location of the edge of the circular saw blade, viaprojection of light line 516, when, or only when, the switch selectivelyapplies the electric current to the at least one other component of theplunge saw. Alternatively, and in some examples, the cut indicator maybe configured to initiate projection of light line 516 when the switchselectively applies the electric current to the at least one othercomponent of the plunge saw. In some such examples, the cut indicatoralso may be configured to indicate the location of the edge of thecircular saw blade, via projection of light line 516, for at least athreshold indication time. This may include indicating the location forat least the threshold indication time regardless of an actuation stateof switch 65. Such a configuration may provide the user with informationregarding the location of the edge of the circular saw blade even whenswitch 65 is not, or is not continuously, actuated and/or depressed.Examples of the threshold indication time include times of at least 5seconds, at least 10 seconds, at least 15 seconds, at least 20 seconds,at least 25 seconds, at least 30 seconds, at most 60 seconds, at most 50seconds, at most 40 seconds, at most 30 seconds, at most 20 seconds,and/or at most 10 seconds.

In some examples, switch 65 may include an initial actuated position anda subsequent actuated position. When the switch is in the initialactuated position, the switch may apply the electric current to the cutindicator and/or the cut indicator may indicate the location of the edgeof the circular saw blade on the workpiece. When in the subsequentactuated position, the switch may apply the electric current to both thecut indicator and the motor. Such a configuration may permit the user todetermine the position of the edge of the circular saw blade prior torotation of the circular saw blade.

Switch 65 may form a portion of plunge assembly 84. Stated another way,switch 65 may be operatively attached to base plate 304 via base platepivot 316 and/or may be configured to pivot with the plunge assemblyand/or relative to the base plate about the base plate pivot. Such aconfiguration may permit and/or facilitate improved control of theplunge saw and/or actuation of the switch by the user.

In contrast, at least a portion of cut indicator 500, such as a portionof cut indicator 500 that projects light line 516 and/or such as lightsource 520, may be operatively attached to and/or may form a portion ofbase plate 304. Stated another way, at least the portion of cutindicator 500 may be operatively attached to arbor 100, to motor 90,and/or to plunge assembly 84 via the base plate pivot. In some examples,light source 520 may be operatively attached to base plate 304. In somesuch examples, cut indicator 500 also may include an electricalconductor 540, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 , that may extend betweenplunge assembly 84 and light source 520, such as to electrically powerthe light source. In some examples, light source 520 may be operativelyattached to plunge assembly 84. In some such examples, cut indicator 500also may include a fiber optic cable 542, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 ,that may extend between plunge assembly 84 and/or light source 520thereof and projects light line 516 onto workpiece 98. Suchconfigurations may permit and/or facilitate projection of light line 516from a region of plunge saws 10 (e.g., base plate 304) that is nearand/or proximate workpiece 98.

In some examples of plunge saws 10, and as perhaps best illustrated inFIGS. 2-3 , base plate pivot 316 may operatively attach a trailing edgeregion 86 of plunge assembly 84 to a trailing edge region 306 of baseplate 304. Stated another way, base plate pivot 316 may be configured topermit a leading edge region 85 of plunge assembly 84 to move towardand/or away from leading edge region 305 of base plate 304 via rotationabout the base plate pivot.

In some examples of plunge saws 10, and as perhaps best illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 , plunge mechanism 380 may include a plunge release mechanism87. Plunge release mechanism 87, when present, may be configured to beurged and/or actuated, by the user, to permit the plunge saw totransition from the retracted orientation to the plunged orientation.Examples of plunge release mechanism 87 include any suitable mechanicalpivot, mechanical switch, linkage, and/or surface that may be configuredto receive an actuation force from the user.

As also illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 , plunge mechanism 380 may include aretracted orientation lock 88. Retracted orientation lock 88, whenpresent, may be configured to selectively retain plunge saw 10 in theretracted orientation. In such a configuration, plunge release mechanism87 may be configured to be selectively actuated to release the retractedorientation lock and/or to permit the plunge saw to transition from theretracted orientation to the plunged orientation. Examples of retractedorientation lock 88 include any suitable catch, clasp, mechanical lock,and/or one or more structures that may be configured to resist rotationabout base plate pivot 316 when plunge release mechanism 87 is notactuated by the user and/or to permit rotation about the base platepivot when the plunge release mechanism is actuated by the user.

Plunge saws 10 may include any suitable type or style of plunge saw thatis adapted, configured, designed, and/or constructed to utilize acircular saw blade 200 to cut the workpiece. Examples of plunge saws 10include a handheld plunge saw 12 and/or a track saw 40, as schematicallyillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 . In some examples, plunge saws 10 may includestructure and/or features from both of the above saws, and/or mayincorporate functionality of both of the above saws. As an example, andas discussed in more detail herein, a given plunge saw 10 may be and/ormay incorporate functionality of handheld plunge saw 12 and/or track saw40. Plunge saws 10 according to the present disclosure thus may includeone or more of the features disclosed herein, but plunge saws 10 are notrequired to include all of the features disclosed herein.

Motor 90 may include any suitable structure that may provide the motiveforce for rotation of motor shaft 92 and/or for rotation and/oractuation of circular saw blade 200. Examples of motor 90 include anelectric motor, an AC electric motor, a DC electric motor, a brushlessDC motor, a variable-speed motor, and/or a single-speed motor.

As illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 1-3 and in solid lines in FIGS.5, 7-9, and 11-12 , plunge saws 10 may include a gripping region 60 thatis configured to be gripped and/or held by a user during operation ofthe plunge saw. Gripping region 60, when present, also may be referredto herein as and/or may be a handle, or hand grip.

As also illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 1-3 and in solid lines inFIGS. 5 and 7-9 , plunge saws 10 may include at least one switch 65. Asdiscussed, switch(es) 65 may be configured to be selectively actuated bythe user of the plunge saw, such as to enable and/or permit electriccurrent to be provided to at least one other component of the plunge sawand/or to permit powered operation of the at least one other componentof the plunge saw. As examples, selective actuation of switch(es) 65 maybe utilized to enable operation of a motor controller of the plunge saw,to selectively supply and/or apply an electric current to motor 90, toenable the motor controller to selectively apply the electric current tothe motor, and/or to permit, or direct, the motor to provide the motiveforce for rotation of the motor shaft. In some examples, the electriccurrent may be utilized to power, or to directly power, at least oneother component of the plunge saw, such as motor 90. In some suchexamples, the electric current also may be referred to herein as anelectric power signal. In some examples, the electric current may be anelectric data signal that is sent to at least one other component of theplunge saw, such as the motor controller of the plunge saw. In some suchexamples, the electric current also may be referred to herein as a datasignal and/or as an electric data signal. Examples of switch 65 includean electrical switch, a normally open electrical switch, a momentaryelectrical switch, and/or a locking momentary electrical switch.

Plunge saws 10 may include any suitable power source, and correspondingpower structures 70, for powering motor 90. Examples of the powerstructures include a power cord 72 and/or a battery 74 as illustrated indashed lines in FIGS. 1-3 .

As also illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 1-3 and in solid lines inFIGS. 5-13 , plunge saws 10 may include a blade guard 80. Blade guard80, when present, may be configured to cover, to house, and/or tocontain at least a region of circular saw blade 200, such as to prevent,or to decrease a potential for, contact between the user and thecircular saw blade.

In some examples, and as discussed, plunge saws 10 may be track saw 40.In examples of plunge saws 10 that are a track saw 40, base plate 304may include a rib-receiving channel 324, which may be configured toreceive a raised elongate rib 44 of a track 42, as perhaps bestillustrated in FIG. 1 . Track 42 also may be referred to herein as anelongate track 42 and may be formed from one or more elongate tracksegments, or track sections, 46, which may be operatively attached toone another to define any suitable track length. During operation oftrack saws 40, track 42 may be operatively attached, or clamped, toworkpiece 98 such that an edge of the track corresponds to a desired cutline for the track saw. Subsequently, the track saw may be positioned,relative to the track, such that raised elongate rib 44 is positionedwithin rib-receiving channel 324; and the track saw then may betranslated along at least a fraction of the length of the elongatetrack, thereby producing a straight cut along the desired cut line.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating examples of methods 1000 ofoperating a plunge saw, according to the present disclosure, such asplunge saw 10 of FIGS. 1-13 . Methods 1000 include actuating a switch at1010 and initiating rotation at 1020. Methods 1000 also includeinitiating projection at 1030 and may include maintaining projection at1040. Methods 1000 further may include ceasing actuation at 1050 andinclude plunging a circular saw blade at 1060.

Actuating the switch at 1010 may include actuating any suitable switchof the plunge saw. This may include actuating the switch to selectivelyapply, or supply, an electric current to at least one other component ofthe plunge saw. Examples of the at least one other component of theplunge saw are disclosed herein. Examples of the switch are disclosedherein with reference to switch 65.

In some examples of methods 1000, the actuating at 1010 may includeactuating the switch to an initial actuated position. In some suchexamples, the initiating at 1030 may be responsive to the actuating theswitch to the initial actuated position. In some such examples, theactuating at 1010 further may include actuating, or subsequentlyactuating, the switch to a subsequent actuated position, which differsfrom the initial actuated position. In some such examples, theinitiating at 1020 may be responsive to the actuating the switch to thesubsequent actuated position.

Initiating rotation at 1020 may include initiating rotation of thecircular saw blade of the plunge saw. This may include applying a torqueto the circular saw blade with a motor of the circular saw, via a motorshaft of the motor, and/or via an arbor of the circular saw. Examples ofthe motor are disclosed herein with reference to motor 90. Examples ofthe motor shaft are disclosed herein with reference to motor shaft 92.Examples of the arbor are disclosed herein with reference to arbor 100.The initiating at 1020 may be responsive to, at least partiallyresponsive to, subsequent to, and/or a result of the actuating at 1010.

Initiating projection at 1030 may include initiating projection of alight line onto a workpiece. This may include initiating projection ofthe light line to indicate, or to visually indicate, on the workpieceand/or to a user of the circular saw, a location of an edge of thecircular saw blade, such as to permit and/or facilitate improved cutprecision in the workpiece and/or with the circular saw blade. Examplesof the light line are disclosed herein with reference to light line 516,leading edge light line 517, and/or trailing edge light line 518. Theinitiating at 1030 may be responsive to, at least partially responsiveto, subsequent to, and/or a result of the actuating at 1010.Additionally or alternatively, the initiating at 1030 may be performedprior to, during, and/or at least partially concurrently with theinitiating at 1020 and/or rotation of the circular saw blade.

In some examples, the initiating at 1030 may include initiatingprojection of a leading edge light line onto the workpiece. In someexamples, the initiating at 1030 may include initiating projection of atrailing edge light line onto the workpiece. In some such examples, theinitiating projection of the trailing edge light line onto the workpiecemay be responsive to and/or a result of the plunging at 1060.

In some examples, the projection of the light line includes projectinglight past the circular saw blade. This may include projecting such thata first portion of the light is incident upon the circular saw bladeand/or such that a second portion of the light projects past thecircular saw blade and/or is incident upon the workpiece. In some suchexamples, the second portion of the light defines the light line. Insome such examples, the location of the edge of the circular saw blademay be indicated, on the workpiece, by a transition from a shadow of thecircular saw blade to the light line.

Maintaining projection at 1040 may include maintaining projection of thelight line onto the workpiece for at least a threshold indication time.This may include maintaining projection regardless of a state ofactuation of the switch. Stated another way, ceasing actuation at 1050may include ceasing actuation of the switch during the maintaining at1040. Stated yet another way, the maintaining at 1040 may includemaintaining subsequent to the ceasing at 1050, when performed. Examplesof the threshold indication time are disclosed herein.

Plunging the circular saw blade at 1060 may include plunging thecircular saw blade into the workpiece. The plunging at 1060 may beperformed during rotation of the circular saw blade and/or duringprojection of the light line onto the workpiece. As such, and at leastsubsequent to the plunging at 1060, the light line visually indicates,on the workpiece, the location of the edge of the circular saw blade inand/or within the workpiece.

In some examples, the plunging at 1060 may include rotating a plungeassembly of the plunge saw relative to a base plate of the plunge sawand/or about a base plate pivot of the plunge saw. Examples of theplunge assembly are disclosed herein with reference to plunge assembly84. In some such examples, the rotating may include rotating a leadingedge of the plunge assembly toward a leading edge of the base plate.

In the present disclosure, several of the illustrative, non-exclusiveexamples have been discussed and/or presented in the context of flowdiagrams, or flow charts, in which the methods are shown and describedas a series of blocks, or steps. Unless specifically set forth in theaccompanying description, it is within the scope of the presentdisclosure that the order of the blocks may vary from the illustratedorder in the flow diagram, including with two or more of the blocks (orsteps) occurring in a different order and/or concurrently.

As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and asecond entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity,and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listedwith “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one ormore” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally bepresent other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or”clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specificallyidentified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/orB,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as“comprising” may refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionallyincluding entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only(optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment,to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entitiesmay refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values,and the like.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of oneor more entities should be understood to mean at least one entityselected from any one or more of the entities in the list of entities,but not necessarily including at least one of each and every entityspecifically listed within the list of entities and not excluding anycombinations of entities in the list of entities. This definition alsoallows that entities may optionally be present other than the entitiesspecifically identified within the list of entities to which the phrase“at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those entitiesspecifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least oneof A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or,equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) may refer, in one embodiment,to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no Bpresent (and optionally including entities other than B); in anotherembodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, withno A present (and optionally including entities other than A); in yetanother embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one,A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (andoptionally including other entities). In other words, the phrases “atleast one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions thatare both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each ofthe expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, orC,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A,B, and/or C” may mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A andC together, B and C together, A, B, and C together, and optionally anyof the above in combination with at least one other entity.

In the event that any patents, patent applications, or other referencesare incorporated by reference herein and (1) define a term in a mannerthat is inconsistent with and/or (2) are otherwise inconsistent with,either the non-incorporated portion of the present disclosure or any ofthe other incorporated references, the non-incorporated portion of thepresent disclosure shall control, and the term or incorporateddisclosure therein shall only control with respect to the reference inwhich the term is defined and/or the incorporated disclosure was presentoriginally.

As used herein the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that theelement, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intendedto perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and“configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element,component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing agiven function but that the element, component, and/or other subjectmatter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized,programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function.It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements,components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as beingadapted to perform a particular function may additionally oralternatively be described as being configured to perform that function,and vice versa.

As used herein, the phrase, “for example,” the phrase, “as an example,”and/or simply the term “example,” when used with reference to one ormore components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/ormethods according to the present disclosure, are intended to convey thatthe described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/ormethod is an illustrative, non-exclusive example of components,features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according tothe present disclosure. Thus, the described component, feature, detail,structure, embodiment, and/or method is not intended to be limiting,required, or exclusive/exhaustive; and other components, features,details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, including structurallyand/or functionally similar and/or equivalent components, features,details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, are also within thescope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, “at least substantially,” when modifying a degree orrelationship, may include not only the recited “substantial” degree orrelationship, but also the full extent of the recited degree orrelationship. A substantial amount of a recited degree or relationshipmay include at least 75% of the recited degree or relationship. Forexample, an object that is at least substantially formed from a materialincludes objects for which at least 75% of the objects are formed fromthe material and also includes objects that are completely formed fromthe material. As another example, a first length that is at leastsubstantially as long as a second length includes first lengths that arewithin 75% of the second length and also includes first lengths that areas long as the second length.

Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of plunge saws and methodsaccording to the present disclosure are presented in the followingenumerated paragraphs. It is within the scope of the present disclosurethat an individual step of a method recited herein, including in thefollowing enumerated paragraphs, may additionally or alternatively bereferred to as a “step for” performing the recited action.

A1. A plunge saw, comprising:

a motor including a motor shaft configured to rotate about a shaftrotational axis;

an arbor configured to operatively attach a circular saw blade to theplunge saw and to receive a torque from the motor when the motor shaftrotates about the shaft rotational axis;

a base plate that defines an arbor-facing side and an arbor-opposedside;

a base plate pivot that operatively attaches the arbor to thearbor-facing side of the base plate;

a plunge mechanism configured to be selectively actuated, by a user ofthe plunge saw and during operative use of the plunge saw to cut aworkpiece, to transition the plunge saw from a retracted orientation toa plunged orientation, via rotation of the arbor and the base platerelative to one another and about the base plate pivot, and plunge thecircular saw blade into the workpiece; and

a cut indicator configured to project a light line onto the workpiece tovisually indicate, on the workpiece, a location of an edge of thecircular saw blade.

A2. The plunge saw of paragraph A1, wherein the cut indicator includes aleading edge cut indicator, and further wherein the light line is aleading edge light line configured to visually indicate, on theworkpiece, a leading location of a leading edge of the circular sawblade.

A3. The plunge saw of paragraph A2, wherein the leading edge cutindicator is configured to project the light line onto the workpiecewhen the plunge saw is in both the retracted orientation and the plungedorientation.

A4. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A3, wherein the cut indicatorincludes a trailing edge cut indicator, and further wherein the lightline includes a trailing edge light line configured to visuallyindicate, on the workpiece, a trailing location of a trailing edge ofthe circular saw blade.

A5. The plunge saw of paragraph A4, wherein the trailing edge cutindicator is configured to project the light line onto the workpiece atleast one of:

(i) when the plunge saw is in the plunged orientation;

(ii) only when the plunge saw is in the plunged orientation;

(iii) when the plunge saw is in a fully plunged orientation; and

(iv) only when the plunge saw is in the fully plunged orientation.

A6. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A4-A5, wherein the cut indicatorincludes both the trailing edge cut indicator and a/the leading edge cutindicator.

A7. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A6, wherein the cut indicatoris configured to project the light line in a direction that is at leastsubstantially perpendicular to a blade plane within which the circularsaw blade is configured to rotate.

A8. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A7, wherein the cut indicatorincludes a light source configured to project the light line.

A9. The plunge saw of paragraph A8, wherein the light source includes,or is, a cut indicator LED configured to project the light line.

A10. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A8-A9, wherein the light sourceis configured to project collimated light, wherein the collimated lightdefines the light line.

A11. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A8-A10, wherein the lightsource is configured to project a light arc, and further wherein thelight line is defined by a portion of the light arc that is incidentupon the workpiece.

A12. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A8-A11, wherein the lightsource is configured to project light past the circular saw blade suchthat a first portion of the light is incident upon the circular sawblade and a second portion of the light is incident upon the workpiece,wherein the second portion of the light defines the light line.

A13. The plunge saw of paragraph A12, wherein the location of the edgeof the circular saw blade is indicated, on the workpiece, by atransition from a shadow of the circular saw blade to the light line.

A14. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A13, wherein the plunge sawincludes a switch configured to selectively supply an electric currentto at least one other component of the plunge saw.

A15. The plunge saw of paragraph A14, wherein the cut indicator isconfigured to indicate the location of the edge of the circular sawblade when the switch selectively applies the electric current to the atleast one other component of the plunge saw.

A16. The plunge saw of paragraph A15, wherein the cut indicator isconfigured to indicate the location of the edge of the circular sawblade for at least a threshold indication time, optionally wherein thethreshold indication time is at least one of at least 5 seconds, atleast 10 seconds, at least 15 seconds, at least 20 seconds, at least 25seconds, at least 30 seconds, at most 60 seconds, at most 50 seconds, atmost 40 seconds, at most 30 seconds, at most 20 seconds, and at most 10seconds.

A17. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A14-A16, wherein the at leastone other component of the plunge saw includes the motor.

A18. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A14-A17, wherein the at leastone other component of the plunge saw includes the cut indicator.

A19. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A14-A18, wherein the switchincludes an initial actuated position, in which the switch applies theelectric current to the cut indicator, and a subsequent actuatedposition, in which the switch applies the electric current to both thecut indicator and the motor.

A20. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A14-A19, wherein the switch isoperatively attached to the base plate via the base plate pivot.

A21. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A20, wherein the cutindicator is operatively attached to the base plate.

A22. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A21, wherein the cutindicator is operatively attached to the arbor via the base plate pivot.

A23. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A22, wherein the motor isoperatively attached to the base plate via the base plate pivot.

A24. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A23, wherein the plunge sawincludes a plunge assembly, which includes the arbor and the motor andis operatively attached to the base plate via the base plate pivot.

A25. The plunge saw of paragraph A24, wherein the cut indicator furtherincludes at least one of:

(i) an electrical conductor that extends between the plunge assembly andthe a/the light source of the cut indicator; and

(ii) a fiber optic cable that is operatively attached to both the plungeassembly and the base plate and is configured to project the light line.

A26. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A25, wherein the base platepivot operatively attaches a trailing edge region of a/the plungeassembly to a trailing edge region of the base plate.

A27. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A26, wherein the plungemechanism includes a plunge release mechanism configured to beselectively actuated, by the user, to permit the plunge saw totransition from the retracted orientation to the plunged orientation.

A28. The plunge saw of paragraph A27, wherein the plunge mechanismfurther includes a retracted orientation lock configured to selectivelyretain the plunge saw in the retracted orientation, wherein the plungerelease mechanism is configured to be selectively actuated to releasethe retracted orientation lock and permit the plunge saw to transitionfrom the retracted orientation to the plunged orientation.

A29. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A28, wherein the motorincludes an electric motor.

A30. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A29, wherein the plunge sawfurther includes a gripping region configured to be gripped by the userof the plunge saw during operation of the plunge saw to cut a workpiece.

A31. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A30, wherein the plunge sawfurther includes a blade guard configured to prevent contact between theuser and the saw blade.

A32. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A31, wherein the plunge sawfurther includes at least one of:

(i) a power cord configured to provide electric current to the plungesaw; and

(ii) a battery configured to provide electric current to the plunge saw.

A33. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A32, wherein the plunge sawis a handheld plunge saw.

A34. The plunge saw of any of paragraphs A1-A33, wherein the plunge sawis a track saw.

A35. The plunge saw of paragraph A34, wherein the base plate furtherincludes a rib-receiving channel configured to receive a raised elongaterib of a track.

A36. The plunge saw of paragraph A35, wherein the track saw furtherincludes the track, and wherein the track includes the raised elongaterib.

B1. A method of operating a plunge saw, the method comprising:

actuating a switch of the plunge saw;

responsive to the actuating, initiating rotation of a circular saw bladeof the plunge saw;

responsive to the actuating, initiating projection of a light line ontoa workpiece to visually indicate, on the workpiece, a location of anedge of the circular saw blade; and

during the rotation of the circular saw blade and also during projectionof the light line, plunging the circular saw blade into the workpiece.

B2. The method of paragraph B1, wherein the initiating projectionincludes initiating projection of a leading edge light line onto theworkpiece.

B3. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B2, wherein, responsive to theplunging, the initiating projection further includes initiatingprojection of a trailing edge light line onto the workpiece.

B4. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B3, wherein projection of thelight line includes projecting light past the circular saw blade suchthat a first portion of the light is incident upon the circular sawblade and a second portion of the light is incident on the workpiece,wherein the second portion of the light defines the light line.

B5. The method of paragraph B4, wherein the location of the edge of thecircular saw blade is indicated, on the workpiece, by a transition froma shadow of the circular saw blade to the light line.

B6. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B5, wherein the method furtherincludes maintaining projection of the light line onto the workpiece forat least a threshold indication time, optionally wherein the thresholdindication time is at least one of at least 5 seconds, at least 10seconds, at least 15 seconds, at least 20 seconds, at least 25 seconds,at least 30 seconds, at most 60 seconds, at most 50 seconds, at most 40seconds, at most 30 seconds, at most 20 seconds, and at most 10 seconds.

B7. The method of paragraph B6, wherein the method further includesceasing the actuating the switch during the maintaining.

B8. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B7, wherein the actuating theswitch includes actuating the switch to an initial actuated position,wherein the initiating projection is responsive to the actuating theswitch to the initial actuated position.

B9. The method of paragraph B8, wherein, subsequent to the actuating theswitch to the initial actuated position, the actuating the switchfurther includes actuating the switch to a subsequent actuated position,wherein the initiating rotation is responsive to the actuating theswitch to the subsequent actuated position.

B10. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B9, wherein the plungingincludes rotating a plunge assembly of the plunge saw, which includesthe circular saw blade, relative to a base plate of the plunge saw andabout a base plate pivot of the plunge saw.

B11. The method of paragraph B10, wherein the rotating includes rotatinga leading edge of the plunge assembly toward a leading edge of the baseplate.

B12. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B11, wherein the plunge sawincludes any suitable structure of any of the plunge saws of any ofparagraphs A1-A36.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The plunge saws disclosed herein are applicable to the power toolindustry. It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompassesmultiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each ofthese inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specificembodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to beconsidered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Thesubject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obviouscombinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features,functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where theclaims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, suchclaims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more suchelements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Itis believed that the following claims particularly point out certaincombinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of thedisclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodiedin other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions,elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of thepresent claims or presentation of new claims in this or a relatedapplication. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to adifferent invention or directed to the same invention, whetherdifferent, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims,are also regarded as included within the subject matter of theinventions of the present disclosure.

1. A plunge saw, comprising: a motor including a motor shaft configuredto rotate about a shaft rotational axis; an arbor configured tooperatively attach a circular saw blade to the plunge saw and to receivea torque from the motor when the motor shaft rotates about the shaftrotational axis; a base plate that defines an arbor-facing side and anarbor-opposed side; a base plate pivot that operatively attaches thearbor to the arbor-facing side of the base plate; a plunge mechanismconfigured to be selectively actuated, by a user of the plunge saw andduring operative use of the plunge saw to cut a workpiece, to transitionthe plunge saw from a retracted orientation to a plunged orientation,via rotation of the arbor and the base plate relative to one another andabout the base plate pivot, and plunge the circular saw blade into theworkpiece; and a cut indicator configured to project a light line ontothe workpiece to visually indicate, on the workpiece, a location of anedge of the circular saw blade.
 2. The plunge saw of claim 1, whereinthe cut indicator includes a leading edge cut indicator, and furtherwherein the light line is a leading edge light line configured tovisually indicate, on the workpiece, a leading location of a leadingedge of the circular saw blade.
 3. The plunge saw of claim 2, whereinthe leading edge cut indicator is configured to project the light lineonto the workpiece when the plunge saw is in both the retractedorientation and the plunged orientation.
 4. The plunge saw of claim 1,wherein the cut indicator includes a trailing edge cut indicator, andfurther wherein the light line includes a trailing edge light lineconfigured to visually indicate, on the workpiece, a trailing locationof a trailing edge of the circular saw blade.
 5. The plunge saw of claim4, wherein the trailing edge cut indicator is configured to project thelight line onto the workpiece at least one of: (i) when the plunge sawis in the plunged orientation; (ii) only when the plunge saw is in theplunged orientation; (iii) when the plunge saw is in a fully plungedorientation; and (iv) only when the plunge saw is in the fully plungedorientation.
 6. The plunge saw of claim 2, wherein the cut indicatorincludes both a the trailing edge cut indicator and the leading edge cutindicator.
 7. The plunge saw of claim 1, wherein the cut indicator isconfigured to project the light line in a direction that is at leastsubstantially perpendicular to a blade plane within which the circularsaw blade is configured to rotate.
 8. The plunge saw of claim 1, whereinthe cut indicator includes a light source configured to project thelight line.
 9. The plunge saw of claim 8, wherein the light sourceincludes, or is, a cut indicator LED configured to project the lightline.
 10. The plunge saw of claim 8, wherein the light source isconfigured to project collimated light, wherein the collimated lightdefines the light line.
 11. The plunge saw of claim 8, wherein the lightsource is configured to project a light arc, and further wherein thelight line is defined by a portion of the light arc that is incidentupon the workpiece.
 12. The plunge saw of claim 8, wherein the lightsource is configured to project light past the circular saw blade suchthat a first portion of the light is incident upon the circular sawblade and a second portion of the light is incident upon the workpiece,wherein the second portion of the light defines the light line.
 13. Theplunge saw of claim 12, wherein the location of the edge of the circularsaw blade is indicated, on the workpiece, by a transition from a shadowof the circular saw blade to the light line.
 14. (canceled) 15.(canceled)
 16. The plunge saw of claim 1, wherein the plunge sawincludes a switch configured to selectively supply an electric currentto at least one other component of the plunge saw.
 17. The plunge saw ofclaim 16, wherein the cut indicator is configured to indicate thelocation of the edge of the circular saw blade when the switchselectively applies the electric current to the at least one othercomponent of the plunge saw.
 18. The plunge saw of claim 17, wherein thecut indicator is configured to indicate the location of the edge of thecircular saw blade for at least a threshold indication time of at least5 seconds.
 19. (canceled)
 20. (canceled)
 21. (canceled)
 22. (canceled)23. A method of operating a plunge saw, the method comprising: actuatinga switch of the plunge saw; responsive to the actuating, initiatingrotation of a circular saw blade of the plunge saw; responsive to theactuating, initiating projection of a light line onto a workpiece tovisually indicate, on the workpiece, a location of an edge of thecircular saw blade; and during the rotation of the circular saw bladeand also during projection of the light line, plunging the circular sawblade into the workpiece.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein theinitiating projection includes initiating projection of a leading edgelight line onto the workpiece.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein,responsive to the plunging, the initiating projection further includesinitiating projection of a trailing edge light line onto the workpiece.26. The method of claim 23, wherein the method further includesmaintaining projection of the light line onto the workpiece for at leasta threshold indication time of at least 5 seconds.
 27. (canceled) 28.(canceled)